Effect of copper and iron supplements on performance and hematology of confined sows and their progeny through four reproductive cycles.

Purebred Duroc gilts were fed 0, 15, 30, or 60 ppm of supplemental copper with 100 or 200 ppm of supplemental iron throughout four reproductive cycles. Traits studied included: gestation, lactation, and weaning-to-estrus weight changes; total and live pigs farrowed; total and live pig birth weights and weaned weights at 3 weeks of age; and hemoglobin, hematocri t and plasma copper and iron of sows and their progeny. Animals were bled at breeding, 109th day of gestation, 24 hr and 3 weeks postpartum for sows, and 24 hr and 3 weeks postpartum for progeny. Copper increased linearly the total and live adjusted birth weights at all supplemental copper levels and weaned weights only at the 60 ppm supplemental copper level; copper x iron interactions were significant for lactation weight change. Supplemental iron did not affect birth weight. The sow hematology data showed a maximum response to 15 ppm of supplemental copper for hematocrit and plasma copper and iron; a copper x iron interaction for plasma iron; and bleeding time effects for hematocri t and plasma iron. Supplemental iron had no effect on sow hematological parameters. The progeny hematology data indicated copper and iron effects for plasma copper and iron; copper • iron interactions for hematocrit , and plasma copper and iron; and greater values at 3 weeks postpartum bleeding time than at 24 hr postpar tum for all progeny hematology parameters. (